Latch



B. HALL Dec. l0, 1929.

LATCH Filed April 29. 1927 @Wmv a@ Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES BICKNELL HALL, 0F QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS Laren Application led April 29, 1927. Serial No. 187,527.

This invention relates to locks and latches and has in view more particularly the securing of such closures as automobile doors. The object is to provide a strong, simple and durable latch which will readily engage and firmly hold and which may-be easily released. In particular .embodiments thereof I may provide means for holding the door closed .in a multiplicit of closed positions, that is,

positions wherein the location of the door varies slightly relative to the jamb although the door is neither open nor aj ar.

My invention may be understood by reference to the followin description of one illustrative form thereo taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a door and its coo erating jamb at the lane of the lock bar o the former, the ldoor eing shown aj ar;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the latch mechanism as detachedfrom the door frame; 4

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the door closed and showing the cooperating jamb in section;

Fig. 4 is an vend elevation of the bolt as seen from the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fi 5 is an end elevation of the keeper memer as seen from the line 5- 5 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment of mv invention shown by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, a rotatable bolt is utilized which is adapted to roll .into interengagement with a suitable keeper on the j amb. Herein this rotative movement takes place on an axis extending substantially in the direction of clo'sing movement of the door and I have herein v shown the door 7, which closes against the lock jamb 9, as provided with a spindle llnextending transversely thereof on which Vis loosely mounted for rotation thereon (see Fig. 2) a sleeve 13 provided with a tooth portion 15 for interengagement with a cooperating keeper. Herein the sleeve and the tooth are in the nature of a worm or spiral gear, a single, sturdy, helical tooth 15 being utilized which projects, as best shown in Fig. 1, at the 'amb edge of the door, the sleeve and tooth ing in eiect a spiral pinion with, a single tooth of steep pitch. The outer edge of the tooth may be disposed to suit the angle o'f the joint between the door edge and jamb. The spindle l10n which this pinion is journalled is herein shown as supported at its ends in bearings rovided' in a rose plate 17 at the outer face o the door and in an angular lockcasing plate 19 which embraces the rear edge of the door asis customary in lock constructions. Herein the spindle also serves as a handle spindle for the operation of releasing means hereinafter to be described, the handle 2 1 being pinned on the edge thereof and normally moved to a fixed initial position by a' suitable spring 23, herein shown as a helical spring surrounding the 'spindle and connected to the rose plate 17 and handle 21 respectively. A spring washer 25 may be interposed between the barrel of the rose plate and the end of the pinion providing a thrust bearing for the latter against movement toward the outer face of the door as the door slams into engagement with the jamb and the bolt rolls into cooperation with the keeper.

The latch pinion, which in the example shown has but a single tooth, rolls into cooperation with a suitable keeper on the amb 9 having a complemental toothedconstruction y and herein (see Fig. 5) the keeper member v27 is provided with a diagonal groove 29 adapted to receive the helical tooth 15a This groove, as best shown by Fig. 5, slopes upwardly toward the outer face of the door casing and with the pinion in its normal position with the door open the inner or leading edge of the pinion tooth 15 is disposed at an elevation to enter the groove 29 at its forward edge, the openin conveniently being somewhat flared (see ig. '5) to facilitate the entrance of the tooth 15. To provide for a suitable adjustment of the keeper member it may be made in disc-like form rmitting a rotative adjustment which willpe alter the elevation of the intake end of the groove 29 and I have position of Figs. 1 and 2 when the door is open, conveniently by means hereinafter to be described, as the door swings shut the tooth 15 will enter the groove 29 and the whole bolt will be rocked clockwise, viewing Fig. 2, to the position of Fig. 3, the helical tooth screwing in, as it were, between the teeth on the keeper. It will be obvious that if the reverse rotation of the bolt is prevented the door will be held latched. In other words, the bolt can be withdrawn from the keeper only by an unscrewing action corresponding to a counterclockwise rotation of the bolt. It will furthermore be noted that the exact position of the door relative to the j amb, is immaterial and, providing the bolt is not permitted to rotate in a reverse direction, the door will be latched irrespective of the amount of clockwise movement of the bolt in latching. Thus, if the door is not closed hard enough to ,push it fully home, it will nevertheless be caught and held. Also if, for instance, there are bumpers against which the door closes which are worn, a further rotation of the bolt may take place permitting the door to close up tightly against the worn bumpers.

The means which I have here shown for preventing reverse rotation of a bolt which rolls into engagement with a keeper comprises (see Fig. 2) an arm 35 on the bolt projecting `therefrom and turning therewith, the end of which is rounded off as shown to provide a cam-like portion of increasing radius on that i sid'e of the arm which is in advance on such rotative movement of the bolt as is effected by a releasino` movement thereof, Vthat is, the right. hamside in Fig. 2, while the other side is straight to provide an abrupt shoulder for a purpose t`o be described. In the open position of the door (see Fig. 2) the arm 35 may be engaged by an end surface 37 formed on a locking member or tumbler which herein takes the form of a slide 39 which may be guided in a guideway 41 secured to casing plate 19 and is normally spring-pressed as by means of helical spring 43 toward the right in Figs. 1 and 2. Engagement of the surface 37 with the abrupt sholderof arm 35 holds it against a stop 45 which may be struck up from the plate 19 and normally holds the tooth 15 at a suitable elevation to roll into engagement with the keeper on the jamb. As this takes place the sleeve 13 and arm 35 rotate clockwise, viewing Fig. 2, and the slide 39 is pressed to the left against its spring and the arm movesfreely upward above the upwardly sloping diagonal surface 47 of the slide member which is presented in opposition thereto. When the arm has passed the junction of the surfaces 37 and 47, the slide 39 is pressed toward the right, moving the diagonal vsurface 47 beneath arm-35. When clockwise rotation of the bolt ceases, the diagonal surface will be wedged in firmly under the cam-like end of the arm 35 and it will be obvious` that it will be impossible to rotatethe bolt counterclockwise from the position of Fig. 3 as long as the slide is in the position there shown and that any strain applied through the bolt'will be ineffective to push back the slide. If, however,

the slide is manually drawn to the left from The control through the outside handle 21 is herein illustratedas effected by means (see Figs. 3 and 4) of an arm 49 pinned on to the shaft 13 and adapted, when the handle 21 is turned counterclockwise against the spring 23, to engage an arm 51 on the slide 39 and push the latter against the resistance o'f spring 43 directly to the left within the guideway 41. As an illustration of another means of controlling the slide I have herein supposed the control from the inner side of the door to be effected by a handle relatively remote from the j amb edge and to effect this the slide may carry an extension 53 adapted to be operated on through the pin and slot connection shown by a link or lever 55 which may be rocked by means of any suitable type of handle disposed at the inner side of the door.

I have described in detail the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be understood that various of the principles of construction and operation which are exempliied by what is illustrated may be embodied in widely different mechanical constructions. The disclosure of the drawings and the partieularity of the description are therefore not to be taken as indicative of the scope of the invention. What I claim as new and-desire to secure by Letters Patent I shall express in the following claims.

Claims- 1. In a latch for closures a keeper and a rotatable bolt adapted to roll into interlocking engagement with the keeper, an arm on the tail of the bolt, a tumbler cooperating with'said arm to Wedge the same to prevent reverse rotation of the vbolt and means controlling the tumbler.

2. In a latch for doors a rotatable bolt, a toothed part exposed at the edge of the door, a cooperating keeper having a toothed part adapted to engage the bolt to rotate the same and interlock therewith in consequence of said engagement, said bolt having at its inner portion a. radially extending arm, al tumbler normally projected to cooperate with said arm to wedge the same and prevent reverse rotation'of the bolt and means for withdrawing the tumbler.

3. In a latch for doors a keeper and rotatable boltfhaving an engaging portion exposed mascia at the edge of the door and adapted to roll into interlocking engagement with the keeper, a part carried by the bolt at the inner portion thereof having an edge of increasing radius and a stop member normally projected toward the said part and having a surface cooperating with said edge to secure the bolt n means to retract said member to free the 4. In a latch for doors a keeper and rotatable bolt4 having an engaging portion exposed at the edge lof the door and adapted to roll into interlocking engagement with the keeper, a. cam-like' part carried bythe inner portion of the bolt having an edge of increasing radius terminating in an Iabrupt shoulder, a tumbler having a portion for engagement with 4the shoulder and providing for pushing back the tumbler as the bolt rolls into the keeper and a surface adapted then to be projected over said edge of increasing radius to prevent vreverse movement oi the bolt and manually controlled means for retracting the tumbler.

5. In a latch for closures a boltv adaptedl to rotate about an axis extending substantially in the direction of closing movement, a keeperladapted to'engage the bolt and interlock therewith by rotation thereof, said bolt in itself adapted to rotate freely into and out from the keeper under the reaction thereof on closing and opening movements of the closure and. yreleasable .means automatically eective to prevent reverse rotation of the i bolt.

6; In a'latch for closures a bolt adapted to rotate about an axis extending substantially in the direction of closing movement and havl ing a helical tooth, a keeper having a helical portion to interengage therewith and releasable means automatically effective to prevent reverse rotation ofthe bolt.

7. In a latch for closures a bolt adapted to rotate about an axis extending substantially in the direction of closing movement and having a helical tooth, a keeper having a helical portion `to interengage therewith, a radial arm projecting from tle bolt and a transversely movable tumbler having ,an end sur- D face engaging. said arm whereby-the tumbler is pushed back on movement of said arm in one direction and an adjacent wedging .surface adapted to be projected relatively to the arm to hold the same againstreverse move- 5 ment and means for manually retracting the tumbler to free thebolt.

8. In a latch for closures a worm swivelled in one' closure member and extending substantially in the direction o f closing move- 0 ment, a cooperating| part on the other member adapted to mesh laterally therewith as interlocking engagement therewith and manually operable means for controlling the rotation of the worm.

.the closure is shut and rotate the worm into.

9. In a latch for closures, a keeper, a bolt mounted to movefreely in and out `from the keeper and means to lrestrain movement of the bolt to prevent its disengagement from the keeper comprising a cam-like member which turns as the bolt moves and a manually retractable slide-normally projected past said g member to provide a stop against which it irlids to prevent unlatching movement of the o t. f

10. In a latch for closures, a keeper, a bolt. projecting at the edge of the closure and in itself adapted to' move freely into and out from engagement with the keeper on operation of y the closure and a one way acting mechanism to restrain that movement of the bolt which disengages it from the keeper comprising a cam-like member which moves asthe bolt moves and a tumbler normally projected past the same to provide a stop against which it binds on its movement tending to permit disengagement of the. bolt and manually operable means for retracting said tumbler.

11. In a latch for closures, a keeper, a bolt adapted to enter the keeper on operation of.

the closure and movable to interengage there with at substantially any point of opposition thereto rrespective'of the exact positioning of the closure relative to the vcooperating j amb and means to maintain such engagement except on intentional release moving as the bolt moves tumbler having'a wedge face normally pro- 'ected to follow up said part in its movement, said face disposed at an angle tobind said part against reverse movement, and means for withdrawing the tumbler'.

12. A latch as defined in claim 11 wherein said part which moves as an edge of increasing radius which binds .against said wedge face on reverse movement of the bolt.

In testimony. whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. BICKNELL HALL.

comprising a p art and a cooperatmg t the bolt moves has soy 

